My name is Ernie Leyba and I would like to tell you a little bit about myself and why I would be grateful for your support in my upcoming campaign to become the next Sheriff of Forsyth County. I was born and raised in Southern California and attended parochial school for twelve years. I graduated from St. Catherine Laboure and Bishop Montgomery High School. It was these earlier years that I learned what it takes to succeed in both the elements of hard work and dedication. I carried these two qualities through El Camino College and Long Beach State University.

Ernie Leyba was born and raised in Southern California. He graduated from St. Catherine Laboure and Bishop Montgomery High School, and later attended El Camino College and Long Beach State University. He is a single father who is raising his son in the community.

I have received many certifications as well for Police Law Institute, Advance Law Enforcement and awarded for most DWI arrest in a one-year time frame from Mothers Against Drunk Drivers (M.A.D.D) I have served in the K-9 Unit as well and served as Deputy Sheriff in Forsyth County. I have also earned many recognitions through the Town of Kernersville Police and the City of Durham Police. In addition to these accomplishments, I also established and own my own Company.

Ernie has a professional background in law enforcement and private business. He completed the LAPD Academy while in college and went on to serve with the Los Angeles Police Department and the Newport Beach Police Department, working in units such as Street Patrol, CRASH, GANG, and Narcotics. After relocating to North Carolina, he served as a Deputy Sheriff and K-9 unit officer in Forsyth County.

Ernie Leyba - Ballotpedia

Ernie previously ran for Forsyth County Sheriff in the 2022 and 2018 elections and lost.


2026 North Carolina General Election

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FIGHTING ILLEGAL DRUGS

The loss of the Narcotics Division due to high turnover and limited manpower within the Sheriff’s office. There is little doubt that illegal narcotics have an enormous impact on the safety of Forsyth County. Drugs are related to most burglaries and thefts committed because they want to get money for drugs. Also, assaults and domestic violence occur at an alarming rate due to being high on drugs. We can do a better job at detecting, deterring, and interdicting illegal drugs.

Plans to strengthen the sheriff's office's partnerships with school leaders and all county schools.

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SCHOOL SAFETY

School safety has not been high priority in the past. This is very important to me personally and runs close to the heart because I am a single parent raising my son in this community. It is the foundation of the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County School System and the Sheriff’s Office. The Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office was the creator of the current School Resource Program. I will strengthen our partnership with the superintendent of the schools, school board, and each school within our county.

FOR
Retaining qualified personnel
Reducing high turnover
Greater Transparency
Accountability as Sheriff
Improvements in the Detention Center
Community Involvement
More visibility of Deputies/Officers in the community (Increased Patrols in Neighborhoods)
Increase the Reserve Deputies (Extremely Lacking in the last 10 years)
Bringing back the CSI Division
Bring back the Narcotics Division
Increase and Update the SRO programs for all schools

 

As your Sheriff I guarantee to the citizens of Forsyth that you’ll see me working the streets and aiding and assisting my officers diligently each day and not find me hiding behind the desk all day!!

Supports improving departmental cooperation and rapport with ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) and other federal agencies.

Advocates for increasing street patrols to proactively deter criminals, reduce crime rates, and improve emergency response times.

Supports upgrading and expanding the School Resource Officer (SRO) programs to provide more officers for all county schools.

Supports restoring the department's Narcotics Division and the Crime Scene Investigations (CSI) Division.

Advocates for establishing a specialized task force and collaborating with local, state, and federal agencies to combat illegal drugs, opioid abuse, and gang activity.

- Supports improving departmental cooperation and rapport with ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) and other federal agencies.
- Advocates for increasing street patrols to proactively deter criminals, reduce crime rates, and improve emergency response times.
- Supports upgrading and expanding the School Resource Officer (SRO) programs to provide more officers for all county schools.
- Supports restoring the department's Narcotics Division and the Crime Scene Investigations (CSI) Division.
- Plans to strengthen the sheriff's office's partnerships with school leaders and all county schools.
- Advocates for establishing a specialized task force and collaborating with local, state, and federal agencies to combat illegal drugs, opioid abuse, and gang activity.

Public Safety

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THE DETENTION CENTER

The Detention center has been greatly affected from the high turnover rates. We need to focus on reducing high turnover rates of detention staff and personnel and refocus on recruiting and training. We also need to restore the Crime Scene Investigations and give back to the citizens of the county. Top investigators in the state will be another top priority of mine.

Prioritizes reducing turnover among detention staff through recruitment and training.

Advocates for focusing on providing sufficient training, and supplying necessary resources to detention center staff to improve facility conditions and staff morale.

Advocates for streamlining the intake process for arrestees so that arresting patrol officers can return to the streets more quickly.

- Prioritizes reducing turnover among detention staff through recruitment and training.
- Advocates for focusing on providing sufficient training, and supplying necessary resources to detention center staff to improve facility conditions and staff morale.
- Advocates for streamlining the intake process for arrestees so that arresting patrol officers can return to the streets more quickly.

Jail Management

Opposes nepotism and wasteful spending of taxpayer dollars.

- Opposes nepotism and wasteful spending of taxpayer dollars.

Criminal Justice

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Ernie Leyba

- Plans to strengthen the sheriff's office's partnerships with school leaders and all county schools.
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- Prioritizes reducing turnover among detention staff through recruitment and training.

Ernie Leyba is from Southern California. He has an associate's degree from El Camino College and a bachelor's degree from California State University, Long Beach. He is a single parent.

Forsyth County Sheriff candidate profiles - Issuu

Ernie is a business owner. He previously worked as a deputy sheriff in Forsyth County, North Carolina, and served in police departments in Los Angeles, California, and other areas. 

Ernie Leyba Sheriff Candidate - Winston-Salem Journal

Ernie has more than 20 years of law enforcement experience, including as a deputy sheriff in Forsyth County.

Supports increasing and updating school resource officer (SRO) programs for all schools.

Believes illegal narcotics significantly impact Forsyth County's safety, contributing to burglaries, thefts, assaults, and domestic violence, and advocates for improved efforts in detecting, deterring, and interdicting such drugs.

Supports increasing and updating School Resource Officer (SRO) programs for all schools.

Plans to improve medical care for inmates to prevent deaths from inadequate treatments.

Plans to reduce high turnover rates of detention staff and personnel and plans to refocus on recruiting and training.

Plans to address the high turnover rates of detention staff.

As of April 6, 2026, Ernie Leyba’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Ernie is a Deputy Sheriff. He works at the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office. He previously worked at the Los Angeles Police Department and other municipal police departments in California.

Supports increasing and updating the School Resource Officer (SRO) programs for all schools.

Plans to create a "Specialized Task Force" to combat drug production.

Plans to improve medical care for inmates to prevent deaths from inadequate treatment.

Wants to reduce high turnover rates of detention staff and personnel and refocus on recruiting and training.

Plans to reduce high turnover rates of detention staff and personnel and refocus on recruiting and training.

Buket Urgen

Bobby F. Kimbrough

- The sheriff is responsible for enforcing the law, managing security in jails and courtrooms. They also oversee daily conditions of the jail and inmates in custody and serve legal documents such as warrants and eviction notices. Their ultimate responsibility is to protect the community. 

Responsible for enforcing the law and overseeing jails. 